The island of Sal is very close to the coast of Senegal in West Africa and is the most developed of all the islands of Cape Verde (or Cape Verde). It is about 30 km long and the widest width is 12 km. The island of Sal is the flattest island in the Cape Verde archipelago and takes its name from the now dormant salt mines.
Home to Cape Verde’s first international airport, the scenery when landing on the island of Sal does not create an impression of love at first sight. The landscape is somewhat lunar, arid and gray. But don’t get confused because Sal is an emerging tourist destination par excellence. The incredible white sands and the many colors of the sea form a beautiful backdrop for beach-oriented activities, which are the main reasons to visit the island and it is this combination that creates a wonderful contrast.
Being the most developed island in terms of tourism, Sal has one of the best beaches in the world. The city of Santa María has 8 km of golden sands with warm sea temperatures throughout the year. As a result of this, an important part of the visitors already come here to practice water sports, offering perfect conditions for surfing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling, windsurfing and kitesurfing. . Diving is also becoming a major attraction in Cape Verde due to the fabulous and varied marine life in the oceans. In Santa María, there are extensive instructors and equipment for all water sports. There are also miniature golf, basketball and tennis courts, volleyball and soccer fields, as well as excellent swimming pools.
There are several new luxury hotels planned, along with many villas, apartments, shops, spas and restaurants, so for the next few years one could expect some construction work interruptions. However, the big advantage is that all new and planned buildings are low rise. Due to the development of the tourism industry, there are new venues and facilities that open regularly.
During your visit to Sal, it is worth taking a trip around the island. In particular, you must see the salt lake at Pedra de Lume and the port of Palmeira is a wonderful little place, with lobster farms and salt purification stations that provide a glimpse into everyday life on the island. To see the “real” Sal, visit Espargos with its picturesque main square. It takes its name from its main crop, asparagus. Other places to visit include Buracona (‘big hole’), a natural tidal pool. There are excellent cruises available along the beautiful coast of Sal, or catamaran excursions to other Cape Verde islands.
Simply put, Cape Verde is “on the rise” and preparing to be discovered by international tourists and more and more people are flocking to the island of Sal to see what the fuss is about.
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